THE DEFENDANT OF ARMENIA’S HISTORICAL, POLITICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL ENTITY IN HISTORICAL CARTOGRAPHY

The maps drawn by S.Yeremyan have taken their stable position in the treasury of historical cartography. By comparing the data of antique cartographical sources, particularly those of “Manual of Geography” by Claudius Ptolemy (“Third map of Asia”) to the data provided by “Ashkharhatsuyts” [(«Աշխարհացոյց»-World Atlas) the authors of which are Movses Khorenatsi (the 5th century) and the continuer and editor of his work, Anania Shirakatsi (the 7th century)], S.Yeremyan drew the map of the Kingdom of Great Armenia. He created a valuable book and map, “Armenia according to Ashkharhatsuyts”. Owing to all of this Suren Yeremyan created a valuable book and map, “Armenia according to Ashkharhatsuyts”1. He also began restoring the initial original of “Ashkharhatsuyts” and published several of the 15 maps of the World Atlas. S.Yeremyan published the map of “the known world” (the oikumene) as well. It occupied only one part of the globe of the earth, the model of which S.Yeremyan restored, according to “Ashkharhatsuyts”.

With their accuracy S. Yeremyan’s maps containing the Armenian Highland and Great Armenia serve the purpose of solving historiographical problems in scientific and socio-political spheres, preserving the historical memory for future generations and truthfully presenting the historical picture of the Armenian territories. He remained true to his calling, working in the sphere of historical cartography. Among the voluminous maps dedicated to different epochs of Armenian history and published in recent years, the map dedicated to the Armenian empire of Tigran II the Great has a special significance. S.Yeremyan continued the traditions developed by previous generations of Armenian historians and cartographers, thus greatly contributing to the progress of the Armenological school of historical geography and cartography.